Estimating CO gas exchange in mixed age vegetable plant communities grown on soil-like substrates for life support systems.

If soil-like substrate (SLS) is to be used in human life support systems with a high degree of mass closure, the rate of its gas exchange as a compartment for mineralization of plant biomass should be understood. The purpose of this study was to compare variations in CO gas exchange of vegetable plant communities grown on the soil-like substrate using a number of plant age groups, which determined the so-called conveyor interval. Two experimental plant communities were grown as plant conveyors with different conveyor intervals.

Detonation Nanodiamonds as a New Tool for Phenol Detection in Aqueous Medium.

This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of using detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) for detecting phenol in aqueous medium. The study has shown that the catalytic effect of DNDs in the oxidative azo coupling reaction (phenol-4-aminoantipyrine-hydrogen peroxide) is produced by trace amounts of iron and copper ions adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles. The effectiveness of DNDs as a catalyst is determined by the amounts of these adsorbates and can be enhanced by a factor of two by additional adsorption of these ions onto the nanoparticles.

Stability constants of adducts of succinate copper(II) complexes with β-cyclodextrin determined by capillary electrophoresis.

Cyclodextrins (CD) form inclusion complexes with different "guests" owing to the fact that the shape of the CD molecule is a truncated cone with a hydrophobic cavity. The adducts of CD with metal complexes remain scantily explored. In this study, the stability constants of the adducts between succinate copper(II) complexes and β-CD was determined using capillary electrophoresis.

Properties of PHA bi-, ter-, and quarter-polymers containing 4-hydroxybutyrate monomer units.

The present study investigates physicochemical, mechanical, and biological properties of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers containing 4-hydroxybutyrate (4HB) synthesized in Cupriavidus eutrophus B10646 culture. In poly(3-hydroxybutyrate/4-hydroxybutyrate) [P(3HB/4HB)] bipolymers, 4HB varied between 10.4 and 75.

Catalytic Oxidation of Lignins into the Aromatic Aldehydes: General Process Trends and Development Prospects.

This review discusses principal patterns that govern the processes of lignins' catalytic oxidation into vanillin (3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde) and syringaldehyde (3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde). It examines the influence of lignin and oxidant nature, temperature, mass transfer, and of other factors on the yield of the aldehydes and the process selectivity. The review reveals that properly organized processes of catalytic oxidation of various lignins are only insignificantly (10-15%) inferior to oxidation by nitrobenzene in terms of yield and selectivity in vanillin and syringaldehyde.

Fluorescence lifetime components reveal kinetic intermediate states upon equilibrium denaturation of carbonic anhydrase II.

In most cases, intermediate states of multistage folding proteins are not 'visible' under equilibrium conditions but are revealed in kinetic experiments. Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy was used in equilibrium denaturation studies. The technique allows for detecting changes in the conformation and environment of tryptophan residues in different structural elements of carbonic anhydrase II which in its turn has made it possible to study the intermediate states of carbonic anhydrase II under equilibrium conditions.

Fungicidal activity of slow-release P(3HB)/TEB formulations in wheat plant communities infected by Fusarium moniliforme.

Fungicidal activity of experimental tebuconazole (TEB) formulations was investigated in laboratory soil ecosystems in wheat plant communities infected by Fusarium moniliforme. TEB was embedded in the matrix of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, shaped as films and microgranules. These formulations were buried in the soil with wheat plants, and their efficacy was compared with that of commercial formulation Raxil and with the effect of pre-sowing treatment of seeds.

Herbicidal activity of slow-release herbicide formulations in wheat stands infested by weeds.

The present study reports the herbicidal activity of metribuzin and tribenuron-methyl embedded in the degradable matrix of natural poly-3-hydroxybutyrate [P(3HB)/MET and P(3HB)/TBM]. The developed formulations were constructed as films and microgranules, which were tested against the weeds such as white sweet clover Melilotus albus and lamb's quarters Chenopodium album in the presence of soft spring wheat (Triticum aestivum, cv. Altaiskaya 70) as the subject crop for investigation.

Bioluminescent enzyme inhibition-based assay to predict the potential toxicity of carbon nanomaterials.

A bioluminescent enzyme inhibition-based assay was applied to predict the potential toxicity of carbon nanomaterials (CNM) presented by single- and multi-walled nanotubes (SWCNT and MWCNT) and aqueous solutions of hydrated fullerene С (CHyFn). This assay specifically detects the influence of substances on parameters of the soluble or immobilised coupled enzyme system of luminescent bacteria: NAD(P)Н:FMN-oxidoreductase+luciferase (Red+Luc). A protocol based on the optical properties of CNM for correcting the results of the bioluminescent assay was also developed.

The disulfide-rich Metridia luciferase refolded from E. coli inclusion bodies reveals the properties of a native folded enzyme produced in insect cells.

The bioluminescence of a marine copepod Metridia longa is determined by a small secreted coelenterazine-dependent luciferase that uses coelenterazine as a substrate of enzymatic reaction to generate light (λ=480nm). To date, four different isoforms of the luciferase differing in size, sequences, and properties have been cloned by functional screening. All of them contain ten conserved Cys residues that suggests up to five SS intramolecular bonds per luciferase molecule.

Bioluminescent and biochemical properties of Cys-free Ca-regulated photoproteins obelin and aequorin.

Bioluminescence of a variety of marine coelenterates is determined by Ca-regulated photoproteins. A strong interest in these proteins is for their wide analytical potential as intracellular calcium indicators and labels for in vitro binding assays. The presently known hydromedusan Ca-regulated photoproteins contain three (aequorin and clytin) or five (obelin and mitrocomin) cysteine residues with one of them strictly conserved.

Climate-Induced Northerly Expansion of Siberian Silkmoth Range.

Siberian silkmoth ( Tschetv.) is a dangerous pest that has affected nearly 2.5 × 10 ha of "dark taiga" stands (composed of , and ) within the latitude range of 52°-59° N.

Is bacterial luminescence response to low-dose radiation associated with mutagenicity?

Luminous marine bacteria are widely used in bioassays with luminescence intensity being a physiological parameter tested. The purpose of the study was to determine whether bacterial genetic alteration is responsible for bioluminescence kinetics change under low-dose radiation exposure. The alpha-emitting radionuclide Am and beta-emitting radionuclide H were used as the sources of low-dose ionizing radiation.

Constructing Slow-Release Formulations of Ammonium Nitrate Fertilizer Based on Degradable Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate).

The present study describes construction and investigation of experimental formulations of ammonium nitrate embedded in a matrix of degradable natural polymer poly-3-hydroxybutyrate [P(3HB)] and P(3HB) blended with wood flour shaped as tablets, some of them coated with P(3HB). Kinetics of ammonium release into soil as dependent on the composition of the polymer matrix was investigated in laboratory experiments. The rates of fertilizer release from formulations coated with a biopolymer layer were considerably (two months or longer) slower than the rates of fertilizer release from uncoated formulations, while release from polymer and composite (polymer/wood flour) formulations occurred with comparable rates.

Inhibition effect of food preservatives on endoproteinases.

The present manuscript proposes a novel approach to assess the impact of food additives on human metabolism by analysing their effect on biomarker enzyme activity. Alterations in the activity of pancreatic enzymes, such as chymotrypsin and trypsin, which are affected by the most common food preservatives, sodium benzoate (E211), potassium sorbate (E202) and sorbic acid (E200), have been evaluated. The proteinase activity was analysed with a bioluminescent method using the light intensity decay constant.

Mechanism and color modulation of fungal bioluminescence.

Bioluminescent fungi are spread throughout the globe, but details on their mechanism of light emission are still scarce. Usually, the process involves three key components: an oxidizable luciferin substrate, a luciferase enzyme, and a light emitter, typically oxidized luciferin, and called oxyluciferin. We report the structure of fungal oxyluciferin, investigate the mechanism of fungal bioluminescence, and describe the use of simple synthetic α-pyrones as luciferins to produce multicolor enzymatic chemiluminescence.

Variability of fluorescence spectra of coelenteramide-containing proteins as a basis for toxicity monitoring.

Nowadays, physicochemical approach to understanding toxic effects remains underdeveloped. A proper development of such mode would be concerned with simplest bioassay systems. Coelenteramide-Containing Fluorescent Proteins (CLM-CFPs) can serve as proper tools for study primary physicochemical processes in organisms under external exposures.

Metal-enhanced luminescence: Current trend and future perspectives- A review.

Optically enhanced biosensing strategies are prerequisites for developing miniature and highly sensitive multiplexed analytical platforms. Such smart biosensing systems are highly promising for use in the fields of biomedicine and environmental monitoring. Optical signal enhancement during bioassays is attributed to the complex opto-electronic interactions of incoming photonic signals at the nanomaterial interface.

From east to west across the Palearctic: Phylogeography of the invasive lime leaf miner Phyllonorycter issikii (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) and discovery of a putative new cryptic species in East Asia.

Knowing the phylogeographic structure of invasive species is important for understanding the underlying processes of invasion. The micromoth Phyllonorycter issikii, whose larvae damage leaves of lime trees Tilia spp., was only known from East Asia.

Exposure of luminous marine bacteria to low-dose gamma-radiation.

The study addresses biological effects of low-dose gamma-radiation. Radioactive Cs-containing particles were used as model sources of gamma-radiation. Luminous marine bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum was used as a bioassay with the bioluminescent intensity as the physiological parameter tested.

Progress in the Study of Bioluminescent Earthworms.

Even though bioluminescent oligochaetes rarely catch people's eyes due to their secretive lifestyle, glowing earthworms sighting reports have come from different areas on all continents except Antarctica. A major breakthrough in the research of earthworm bioluminescence occurred in the 1960s with the studies of the North American Diplocardia longa. Comparative studies conducted on 13 earthworm species belonging to six genera showed that N-isovaleryl-3-aminopropanal (Diplocardia luciferin) is the common substrate for bioluminescence in all examined species, while luciferases appeared to be responsible for the color of bioluminescence.

Mutants of Ca -regulated Photoprotein Obelin for Site-specific Conjugation.

Color variants of Ca -regulated photoprotein obelin were shown to be an important tool for dual-analyte binding assay. To provide site-directed conjugation with biospecific molecules, several obelin color mutants carrying unique cysteine residues were obtained and characterized for their novel properties. A pair of obelins Y138F,A5C and W92F,H22E,D12C was found to be most suitable (in terms of high bioluminescent activity and stability) as reporters in simultaneous assay of two targets in a sample.

Benefit-risk ratio of canned pacific saury (Cololabis saira) intake: Essential fatty acids vs. heavy metals.

Fatty acid (FA) and element contents were studied in 14 brands of canned (in its own juice and with sunflower oil) saury (Cololabis saira), a popular product of Russian market. Canned saury is a valuable source of essential polyunsaturated FA - eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3). To obtain personal daily dose of EPA + DHA of 1 g for prevention of cardiovascular diseases, neural and inflammatory disorders one needs to intake from 26 to 76 g of canned saury, as was calculated for studied brands.

Tyr72 and Tyr80 are Involved in the Formation of an Active Site of a Luciferase of Copepod Metridia longa.

Luciferase of copepod Metridia longa (MLuc) is a naturally secreted enzyme catalyzing the oxidative decarboxylation of coelenterazine with the emission of light. To date, three nonallelic isoforms of different lengths (17-24 kDa) for M. longa luciferase have been cloned.